New Year's baby finally arrived

Naval Hospital Oak Harbor welcomed Island County’s first baby of the New Year with the birth of Xavier Devon Stephens at 6:15 p.m., Jan. 1, 2003.

The baby boy weighed in at 7 pounds 7 ounces, and was born to Margarita and Donald Stephens of Oak Harbor. His mother, Margarita, is a personnelman 3rd class at the Navy Hospital Human Resources department, and the father Donald is a student.

The couple was previously stationed in Guam, and after two typhoons in January and the extreme Guam heat during most of her nine months of pregnancy, the Stephens came to Whidbey Island in October of 2002. The move was also convenient because it brought Margarita closer to her family in Yakima county.

According to the new mother, it was Xavier’s “hard-headedness like his father’s” that contributed to his New Year’s Day arrival. Initially, Margarita’s doctors gave her a due date of Christmas day, but then realized the little bundle needed a little more time and moved the delivery estimate to Dec. 31.

As predicted, Margarita woke up the morning of Dec. 31 with contractions 2 - 3 minutes apart and arrived at the Navy Hospital around 8 a.m., but Xavier was stubborn to arrive, and the Stephens were sent home. Later that evening Margarita began heavy contractions again and returned to the hospital around 11 p.m. to spend the night. Into her second day of labor, Xavier Devon Stephens finally arrived at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday.

“I’m just glad he finally arrived,” said Margarita of her long labor period.

It will be a “whole new exciting experience” for Donald who plans to be a stay-at-home father.

Although just three days old as of this evening, the proud parents already see a growing personality in their young son.

“Hopefully he’ll get her patience,” Donald said, “and already we see that he lucked out with more hair than me.”

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